Acquired Tastes5/14/20May 141Acquired Tastes5/14/20Acquired TastesBefore dalgona coffee—way before—there was the Greek frappeElena Bruess11The drink came out absolutely sweating. Already the dry Greek heat had begun melting the ice, and condensation was…
Features3/4/19Mar 4 20192Features3/4/19FeaturesWhat it’s like to finally try fast food after a childhood of longingElena Bruess137When I’m at Taco Bell, I call my friend to see what I should order. This is not due to my friend’s especially…
Features3/11/18Mar 11 20181Features3/11/18FeaturesSwing high and thwap: How the Greeks make their octopus delicious and tenderElena Bruess18When we arrive in Monemvasia, our bus driver decides tonight is a good night for octopus and heads down to the pier…
Reviews3/5/18Mar 5 20187Reviews3/5/18A-ReviewsThe author of Beasts Of No Nation returns with an overwhelmingly evocative coming-out novelElena Bruess3An evocative narrative and stark dialogue keeps Uzodinma Iweala’s Speak No Evil from a single dull moment. In…
Reviews12/11/17Dec 11 20172Reviews12/11/17B+ReviewsThe Only Girl In The World is a harrowing, gripping memoir of abuse and psychopathyElena Bruess11In a translation of the recent bestselling French memoir, The Only Girl In The World author Maude Julien approaches…
Best Of12/4/17Dec 4 20174Best Of12/4/17Best OfThe A.V. Club’s favorite books of 2017Caitlin PenzeyMoog, Randon Billings Noble, and 9 more35Something about this year made reading books feel not just crucial, but a little bit transgressive. Maybe it’s the…
Acquired Tastes8/30/17Aug 30 20173Acquired Tastes8/30/17Acquired TastesJell-O salad is still breaking the dessert moldElena Bruess91Your first bite begins with the familiar burst of squishy, fruity, gelatin cool. The second spoonful brings flavors…
Reviews8/7/17Aug 7 2017SaveReviews8/7/17AReviewsJenny Zhang’s raw Sour Heart is an unforgettable debut collectionElena Bruess12Jenny Zhang’s characters and scenic precision stand out in her debut collection of short stories, Sour Heart: Stories…
Reviews7/10/17Jul 10 2017SaveReviews7/10/17A-ReviewsZinzi Clemmons’ grief-filled What We Lose brings new depth to an old topicElena Bruess16Zinzi Clemmons uses a poetic style, rich imagery, and fervent introspection to delve deep into the heart of racial…
Reviews3/6/17Mar 6 2017SaveReviews3/6/17A-ReviewsLyrical realism illuminates real immigration in the stunning Exit WestElena Bruess6In an astonishing synthesis of political commentary and vivid imagery, Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West is a commanding yet…